Two significant hearings in the Aurora theater shooting case have been postponed, as prosecutors and defense attorneys continue to wrangle over whether the gunman should have to undergo another psychiatric evaluation.

In an order issued Friday, Arapahoe County District Court Judge Carlos Samour delayed hearings on that issue scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. The hearings are significant because they are expected to reveal what doctors at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo concluded about James Holmes’ mental state when he shot 12 people and wounded many more in the Century Aurora 16 movie theater. Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, making the evaluation — the results of which have been kept secret so far — perhaps the most important piece of evidence in the case.

In his order, Samour wrote that the evaluation drew conclusions on three questions: Was Holmes sane at the time of the shooting; is Holmes currently mentally competent to go to trial; and does Holmes suffer from a mental illness that provides a valid defense against the death penalty?

In court last month, Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler said prosecutors disagree with the evaluation’s finding on one of those questions. Brauchler is asking Samour to order Holmes to undergo another evaluation, this time by prosecution experts. According to a sealed prosecution motion quoted in Samour’s order, those experts would “examine the defendant in order to generate their own reports that would cure the deficiencies described.”

Samour decided to postpone this week’s hearings because of confusion about the request’s scope. Samour wrote that prosecutors, in a subsequent court filing, appeared to expand the purpose of the proposed new evaluation, a move he blasted as improperly late.

“Nevertheless, given the significance of the issue, the Court believes it would be imprudent to … hold the prosecution to the limited request it never intended to make or which it has now abandoned,” Samour wrote.

New dates for the hearings have not yet been scheduled, though Samour previously set aside two days in early January to also debate the issue.

When the hearings do occur, it remains uncertain whether the public will be able to attend. Defense attorneys have asked to close the hearings. Samour has not yet ruled on the motion.

John Ingold: 303-954-1068, jingold@denverpost.com or twitter.com/john_ingold